NHTSA Complaint #11091692 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

ON APRIL 18, 2018, I PARKED THE CAR IN GARAGE, SHIFTED TO PARK, TURNED THE KEY OFF, AND REMOVED KEY. WHILE GETTING OUT I NOTICED THAT CAR BEGAN TO ROLL. WHILE IN PARK, LOCKED WITH KEY OUT, I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE ROLLED FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. AFTER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE SHIFTER. (SEE FIRST PHOTOS) APPARENTLY, TOYOTA SECURES IT WITH SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC GROMMET WHICH DETERIORATES WITH AGE, DISINTEGRATES, AND CAUSES THE DETACHMENT. (SECOND PHOTOS) EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE LOCKED AND IN PARK, IT IS ACTUALLY IN WHATEVER GEAR IT WAS IN WHEN THE DETACHMENT OCCURRED. OUR DRIVEWAY IS ON AN INCLINE, AND HAD I PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED INSTEAD OF THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET CREATING A SERIOUS RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH. THIS DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TOYOTA SIENNA IS INEXCUSABLE, AND CREATES AN UNREASONABLE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND THE PUBLIC, AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THEM AND CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT.